More than a century ago, American Federation of Labor president Samuel Gompers declared Labor Day "the day for which the toilers in past centuries looked forward, when their rights and their wrongs would be discussed...that the workers of our day may not only lay down their tools of labor for a holiday, but upon which they may touch shoulders in marching phalanx and feel the stronger for it."

Unions were an emergent force back then. As recently as 1953, more than a third of American workers belonged to a union. Within 30 years, that figure had dropped to a fifth. Now, according to the Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 13.5 percent of wage and salary workers are union members.

More interesting is the mix of union membership. In the private sector, its only nine percent of workers. Among government employees, however, the percentage is 37.4.

Just nine percent of private sector employees. Keep that in mind the next time you hear AFL-CIO president John Sweeney speaking as though he represents all the hard working men and women in our country. Sweeney, who is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is a stark reminder of how organized labors been hijacked by Leftists.

The gap between private sector and public sector unionism is explainable. Many workers have figured out that unwarranted demands  the type most favored by union bosses  can choke competition and lead to the exact opposite of the employees best interests. Squeezing out an extra buck an hour from management might feel good for a while, but when the plant closes because its no longer profitable to operate, the worker is the real loser.

In contrast, the public sector faces few competitive pressures. Theres no need to make a profit or, for that matter, to even stay within budget. Taxpayers can usually be forced to pay whatever is required. The unholy coalition of big labor and big government is as understandable as it is regrettable.

About 80 percent of those working in unionized operations must pay union dues as a condition of employment. Much of this money is funneled to Democrats promising an expansion of the welfare state and, even more importantly, still more preferred treatment for organized labor.

Yet for many years polls have shown that about four out of ten union members regularly vote Republican. If these folks have anyone speaking on their behalf, its certainly not the labor bosses who are forcing them to fund candidates they dont support.

For the past several months weve been treated to story after story centering on greedy business people. In fairness, theres never been a shortage of greedy union bosses spurring the rank and file to demand more, more, more. The average Major League Baseball salary is now over $2 million a year. Youd never think that as players are about to end the season with a possible game-killing strike. Talk about your toiling and exploited masses.

We shouldnt overlook the connection between unions and corruption. All too often, its been big labor thats helped keep the organized in organized crime. Its a red-letter day when you read that a unions pension fund hasnt vanished.

Then theres the union violence problem. According to an article in the Washington Times on the 1997 United Parcel Service strike: "Beatings, shootings, stabbings, death threats, intimidation and illegal confiscation of union dues have been reported by hundreds of workers since Teamsters President Ron Carey ordered the strike in August."

A Teamster spokesperson commented, "For a strike of that size and duration - particularly for a Teamsters strike, but for any union - the members really handled themselves very well." There arent many environments in which beatings, shootings, stabbings, death threats and intimidation are considered examples of acceptable behavior.

OK, you may have concluded I dont carry a picture of Mother Jones in my wallet. At the same time, I do think workers should have a right to organize. They should have a right to give money to whomever they choose. They should have a right to strike.

I just dont think workers should be force to pay union dues to get or keep a job. Employers should have a right to replace those who arent willing to work (read strikers) with people who are. I think union members need to get busier cleaning up their organizations and toss out the crooks and the sociopaths. And, of course, the Leftists, if there are any who dont fit in the first two categories.

Some more facts about unions, from the National Right to Work Committee (www.nrtwc.org):The 28 Non-Right to Work states showed a 9% loss in employment than did the 22 Right to Work states, since Sept. 2001.

Oklahoma, only a Right to Work state for one year, has now reached number one in terms of job growth.

Over 8 million Americans are forced to pay union dues as a job condition. Billion$ have been given to Democrat pols as a result of this EXTORTION!

4 out of 5 Americans support the principle behind the National Right to Work Bill (HR 1109) yet a Republican, John Boehner of Ohio, refuses to bring it up for a hearing before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He can be reached at (202)-225-6205.

If any of you are forced into a union like I am, I highly suggest being a Beck Objector. If you are one, you will only have to pay the union for what is costs to negotiate your contract. They are even responsible for giving you an itemized list of the expenditures to do so. That way none of your money is being funneled into the socialist/commie of Amerika fund.

You must be a brave person. I've heard that Beck objectors often get stiff resistance. According to the AFL-CIO:

Workers who exercise this option withdraw their financial support for all other regular union programs, such as legislative lobbying, political expenditures and community and charitable activities. These nonmembers continue to benefit from all these programs, but they shift a greater burden onto union members to pay for them.

Yea, I hear that too. Thankfully I'm in a white collar union (SPEEA) and many of us believe that the union is a horrible thing, especially in a white collar enviornment. But you are correct, many people will not be an objector due to the thought of what might happen to them.

But I'll tell you what, we're going through massive layoffs right now, and do you think the union is doing anything to help those people? Heck no!

So I say that my conscious is worth more than some minor protection from a layoff. I have a marketable skill, and I figure if I feel the company is not treating me right, I'll just take my skills somewhere else. I don't need no stinkin' union....

Oh, and for the claim that I put undue pressures on my fellow employees because I do not pay full dues, well thats a wash. I still pay for my contract to be negotiated, just not all the other things, like massive amounts to the democratic fund. Let you conscious guide the way......

So I say that my conscious is worth more than some minor protection from a layoff. I have a marketable skill, and I figure if I feel the company is not treating me right, I'll just take my skills somewhere else. I don't need no stinkin' union....

No good worker does, just the lazy and incompetent need the unions. Unions eventually destroy all they control. I applaud you.

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